Mil Mi-24 Hind

Summary

Category	Helicopter
Origin country	🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
First flight	19 September 1969
Year of introduction	1972
Number produced	2648 units
Average unit price	$12 million

Description

The Mi-24 Hind is a Russian attack helicopter with a secondary capability to transport troops. It was developed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and first flew in 1969. The aircraft was designed during the Cold War era to serve the Soviet Union's need for a heavily armed and armored helicopter that could engage targets on the ground while also carrying a squad of troops.

The design of the Mi-24 Hind is a blend of both attack and transport helicopter elements, setting it apart from many other combat helicopters. One of its most distinctive features is the forward cockpit, which has a tandem seating arrangement that closely resembles a fighter jet. The pilot sits in the rear while the co-pilot/gunner occupies the front seat. The cockpit is heavily armored to provide better survivability in combat conditions.

The Mi-24's fuselage is also unique, offering a compartment behind the cockpit that can carry up to eight troops or additional equipment. This secondary troop-transport capability is not commonly found in pure attack helicopters. The aircraft has a set of stub wings attached to the fuselage, which serve multiple purposes. These wings provide lift, thus reducing the rotor's workload, and they also feature hardpoints for mounting an array of weaponry such as anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, and machine guns.

The helicopter's rotor system is designed for speed and agility, allowing for relatively high-speed flight compared to traditional helicopters. The five-blade main rotor is mounted on top of a slim fuselage, contributing to its aerodynamic profile. Its tail rotor is mounted on the starboard side, unlike the more common port-side mounting, a characteristic that gives the Mi-24 its unique look.

Powering the Mi-24 are two turboshaft engines mounted on top of the fuselage, providing the helicopter with the power needed for its diverse range of missions.

Armament

The Mi-24 Hind is renowned for its formidable array of armaments, which can vary depending on the variant and specific mission requirements. One of its primary weapons is a four-barrel Yakushev-Borzov YakB-12.7 machine gun mounted on a turret under the nose, capable of firing 4,000 to 5,000 rounds per minute. This gun is often used for strafing runs against ground targets and is controlled by the co-pilot/gunner in the front seat.

For anti-tank operations, the Mi-24 commonly employs guided missile systems such as the 9M114 Shturm (AT-6 Spiral) or the more modern 9M120 Ataka (AT-9 Spiral-2). These missiles are laser-guided and capable of penetrating most types of armor. They are mounted on hardpoints located on the helicopter's stub wings.

In addition to anti-tank missiles, the Mi-24 also has the capacity to carry unguided rocket pods for use against fortified positions or infantry concentrations. These rockets usually come in calibers ranging from 57mm to 80mm and are fired from multiple-launch pods.

Beyond guided missiles and rockets, the stub wings' hardpoints can also carry a range of other weapons such as additional machine gun pods, grenade launchers, or even anti-aircraft missiles, depending on the mission's requirements.

The Mi-24 can also be equipped with defensive systems like flares and infrared jammers to counter incoming anti-aircraft missiles. Electronic warfare suites and advanced avionics have been incorporated into later versions to improve targeting, navigation, and survivability.

Operational history

The Mi-24 Hind has a storied operational history that stretches over multiple decades and a variety of conflict zones. One of its earliest deployments was in the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989), where it gained notoriety for its combat effectiveness but also faced challenges from mujahideen fighters armed with American-supplied Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.

In the 1980s, it was also extensively used by the Soviet Union in Angola and Ethiopia, supporting friendly governments against insurgencies and rebel movements. The aircraft's performance in these conflicts generally validated its dual-role concept, effectively acting both as a troop transporter and as an attack platform.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Mi-24 saw service in the internal conflicts of several former Soviet states, including the Chechen Wars in Russia. It has been used by Russian forces in various capacities and underwent several upgrades to improve its capabilities.

Internationally, the Mi-24 has been exported to a large number of countries and has seen action in conflicts such as the Iran-Iraq War, the Yugoslav Wars, and more recently, the conflicts in Syria and Libya. Various modified versions of the Mi-24 have been used by countries like India, Iraq, and Ukraine.

In the NATO intervention in Libya in 2011, the Mi-24s used by Gaddafi's forces were largely neutralized due to the advanced anti-aircraft capabilities of the intervening forces. This exposed some of the platform's limitations in facing a technologically superior adversary.

Variants

Mi-24A: The initial production variant that first entered service in the early 1970s. It was equipped with a turret-mounted machine gun and stub wings for weapons but had some limitations, like poorer aerodynamics due to its greenhouse-like cockpit.
Mi-24D: Introduced in the mid-1970s, this variant improved upon several of the Mi-24A's shortcomings. It featured a redesigned, more aerodynamic cockpit and upgraded avionics. The armament also saw improvements, including the addition of the Shturm anti-tank missile system.
Mi-24V (Mi-35): One of the most widely produced and exported versions, the Mi-24V came into service in the late 1970s. It replaced the older Falanga anti-tank missile system with the more advanced Shturm system and also had an improved engine.
Mi-24P: A variant that replaced the turret-mounted machine gun with a fixed, side-mounted 30mm cannon. This version sacrificed some flexibility in aiming the gun for increased firepower.
Mi-24W: A variant tailored for Western markets and featuring compatibility with NATO equipment and systems.
Mi-24 SuperHind: A significantly upgraded version of the Mi-24, produced by the South African company ATE. The SuperHind versions come with various modernizations, including advanced avionics and weapon systems, but they are not produced in large numbers.
Mi-35M: A modernized version featuring night operation capabilities, new rotor blades for better aerodynamic performance, and the ability to fire Igla-S air-to-air missiles. It's one of the latest versions and is currently in service with several countries.

Technical specifications

Version: Mi-24A Hind-A
Crew	1 pilot + 1 WSO
Operational range	485 km (301 mi)
Maximum speed	330 km/h (205 mph)
Wing area	6.3 m² (67.3 sqft)
Wingspan	6.5 m (21.5 ft)
Height	5.5 m (17.9 ft)
Length	21.4 m (70.0 ft)
Service ceiling	5120 m (16798 ft)
Empty weight	7792 kg (17178 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight	11500 kg (25353 lbs)
Powerplant	2 × Isotov TV3-117

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	Russia	326
	Sudan	43
	Uzbekistan	33 (+4)
	Algeria	33
	Ukraine	33
	Poland	30
	Syria	27
	Iraq	23
	Kazakhstan	22 (+4)
	Belarus	21 (+4)
	Armenia	20
	North Korea	20
	Azerbaijan	16
	Peru	16
	Nigeria	15 (+18)
	Angola	15
	India	15
	Yemen	14
	Czech Republic	11
	Georgia	11
	Turkmenistan	10
	Venezuela	10
	Mali	9 (+1)
	Myanmar	9
	Sri Lanka	9
🇨🇩	Congo Democratic Republic	8
	Hungary	8
	Egypt	7
🇬🇶	Equatorial Guinea	7
	Indonesia	7
	Libya	7
	Eritrea	6
	Ethiopia	6
🇸🇸	South Sudan	6
	Tajikistan	6
	Zimbabwe	6
	Rwanda	5
	Senegal	5
	Uganda	5
	Serbia	4 (+3)
	Cuba	4
	North Macedonia	4
	Pakistan	4
	Burundi	3
	Chad	3
	Guinea	3
	Bulgaria	2
	Burkina Faso	2
	Djibouti	2
	Kyrgyzstan	2
	Mozambique	2
	Namibia	2
	Sierra Leone	2
	Niger	1 (+2)
	Congo	1
	Ivory Coast	1
	United States	1
	Ghana	0 (+4)